Dhumal urges PM, FM to extend industrial package to 2013

SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Thursday urged the Centre to extend the industrial package given to the state during NDA rule to its original duration of 2013.

Dhumal met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi and requested them to initiate positive action, an official release said here.

Quoting year-wise statistics of investment proposals received by Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab of Rs 3,596 crore, Rs 6,350 crore and Rs 10,737 crore respectively, he said they proved that investment in the hill state was far less than the two neighbouring states.

On the opposition by neighbouring Punjab and Haryana to the industrial package, Dhumal told the leaders that according to the statistics released by the department of industrial promotion there is no flight of industries from neighbouring states to Himachal Pradesh.

Both the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister assured Dhumal that the Centre would take a sympathetic view of the genuine demands of the state government, the release added.